Trial begins in Elrose animal neglect case

The trial began Thursday for an Elrose woman charged with animal neglect. Dolores LaPlante had 64 cats, seven turtles, and a dog seized from her home earlier this year.

The prosecution presented its case Thursday. Court heard from animal protection officer who went into the home. He said the animals were in distress because of the living conditions there. He said when he entered the home there was an overwhelming smell of urine, there was garbage and feces all over the floor.

Officials even found a dead cat that appeared to be partially eaten by the other cats in the home.

Court also heard from the SPCA worker who assessed the seized cats when they first arrived there. She said some of them were very thin, had hair loss, and 10 to 15 of them were in such poor condition that they had to be euthanized.

On cross examination the defense showed that Dolores LaPlante did isolate some of the sick cats from the others as a quarantine measure. Defense also showed photos taken by the SPCA of the seized cats to the SPCA witness. She could not attest that any of the cats in the photos looked thin.

The defense will present its case when the trial resumes on November 29.

Photos

Over 70 animals were seized from a home in Elrose and taken to the Saskatoon SPCA, Jan. 15, 2011.